Metalworking machine adapted to act independently or to augment the functions of machine tools



Feb. '14, 1950 D. s. McCULLOUGH 2,497,735

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE TOOLS Filed Aug. 13, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

DAVID SJIIFCULLOUGH iiL-dm ATTOA EY Feb. 14, 1950 D. s. M CULLOUGH 2,497,735

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED T0 ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS 0F MACHINE TOOLS Filed Aug. 13, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

jillnwa ATTOR Y Feb. 14, 1950 D. s. MGCULLOUGH 2,497,735

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED T0 ACT INDEPENDENTLY 7 OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF momma TOOLS Filed Aug. 13, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

DAVID .5M CULl0I/Gl Feb. 14,

Filed Aug. 1:, 1947 Feb. 14,

Filed Aug. 1 3, 1947 1950 as. M CULLOUGH 2,497,735

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED T0 ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE TOOLS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 155 FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

DAVID S. MCULLOUG'H ATTO NEX Feb. 14, 1950 D. s. M CULLOUGH 2,497, 3

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED T0 ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE TOOLS Filed Aug. 13, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 9

| I l l 1 l 1 1 r I 1 I I I 20 A INVENTOR.

DAV/D .3 MCI/M0061! ATTOR E) Feb. 14, 1950 D. s. MCCULLOUGH 2,4 7,7

METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE TOOLS Filed Aug. 13, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. DAVID S. M CULLOUGH jlLQJhL A max EY Patented Feb. 14, 1950 METALWORKING MACHINE ADAPTED T ACT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO AUGMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF MACHINE TOOLS David S. McCullough, New York, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1947, Serial No. 768,470

0 Claims. (Ci. 90-10) This invention relates to tools and especially to a device for milling, drilling, grinding or the like, to be used in conjunction with machine tools or similar equipment, to increase their scope, flexibility and usefulness, but which may also be used independently to perform similar operations. This tool is especially adapted for use in working upon metals but may also be used in some instances for working upon wood and other materials.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tool having a worm and worm wheel assembly in which backlash is reduced to a minimum and wear on bearings may be taken up.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool with a rotating tool element in which the position of the tool element may be accurately adjusted by means of a single adjusting element and locked in adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motor driven tool unit in which a worm and worm wheel tool drive may be used, or, alternatively, an auxiliary tool element may be driven directly from the motor, without using the worm and worm wheel, there being adjustments for a variety of speeds and, in the case of the auxiliary tool element, a coordinated angular adjustment for the tool shaft and motor shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool unit adapted to be used as a precision instrument in conjunction with another precision instrument, such as a machine tool, in which there is provided precision alignment of the tool carried by the tool unit with the movement and feeds of the machine tool such that the accuracy of the machine tool is carried on to the tool of the tool unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool unit in which a tool driving shaft carries a pulley at one end, a motor carries a cooperating pulley, and the tool driving pulley may be placed at either end of its shaft, and the motor with its pulley reversed end to end so that the two pulleys may be positioned where they will offer no interference when operating the device close to obstructions on either side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool unit of the general nature of that above described provided with a feed table mechanism by which the tool can be moved towards and away from the work and from side to side thereof and such movements can be accurately adjusted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention,

will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front sectional eievational view of a machine tool unit;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevational view of the machine tool unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section. of the unit of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the housing which carries the tool operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevational view of a portion of the housing of Fig. 4 with an additional attachment shown therewith;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the attachment shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tool unit showing another attachment therefor;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the attachment shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the housing showing the tool retaining member;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the bracket for attaching the motor for the tool unit;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a feed table mechanism for the unit shown in the preceding figures;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the feed table of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the feed ble.

The tool unit of the invention comprises a base plate Ill, (Figs. 1 and 2) and a cap plate I I spaced apart by posts i2 which, with the plates, form a frame in which a housing i3 carrying the tool mechanism is slidably mounted so that the position of the tool may be adjusted.

In the embodiment shown there are four posts and these are preferably of circular cross-section and have reduced diameter portions l4 and II, (Fig. 2), at the ends thereof forming shoulders i8 and i1, respectively. The portion I4 is threaded and loosely engages the threads in a tapped hole I! provided for it in the base plate The top and bottom faces of the base plate iii are ground flat and parallel and the shoulder II is ground perpendicular to the axis of the post so that when the post is screwed into the hole II, the shoulder i6 is forced against the upper fiat surface of the plate and insures the perpendicularity of the post both to the base plate and to any surface on which the base plate may be mounted regardless of the accuracy of the threads. For this reason there is preferably a large difference between the diameter of the post proper and that of the portion ll.

- slldable movement within the frame.

Similarlythe cap plate II is ground flat ad- ,iacentthe posts l2 and the shoulder H on each post is ground perpendicularly to the axis of the post. The hole I! in the cap plate, however, is not tapped, but the portion I3 is long enough to pass through it to be engaged by a suitable nut 23 which draws the shoulder |1 securely against the ground face of the cap plate The housing l3 may be a hollowcasting provided with four elongated bearings 20 which engage the pcsts l2 and permit the housing to-have The posts and bearings are preferably made with great accuracy so as to eliminate any side motion and permit movement only in a direction parallel to the axes of the posts.

An advantage gained from the combination of the flat parallel surfaces of plate |0, the perpendicularly of the posts l2 and the accuracy of the fit of the posts l2 and the bearings 23, is that when the device is attached to work surface or reference surface of a machine tool. alignment with the movements and feeds of the machine 4 I on th threads may also be quickly compensated for b readjusting the sleeves. Slots 34 and 3| may be provided respectively in the ends of the 'motor with the surface on which base plate' I0 is tool is assured and-the accuracy of the machine tool is carried on to the tool carrying sleeve 31 and to the attachments, as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 7.

The position of the housing is adjusted by means of a single screw 2| which is rotatably mounted in the cap plate H. To this end the screw 2| is provided with acoilar 22 adjacent one end and that end flts through a hole 23 in the cap plate II with the collar against a flat surface of the plate. A boss 24 is provided on the other side of the plate II and a sleeve is secured against rotation on the screw 2| as by a set screw 26", and rotates against the boss 24 to hold the screw against longitudinal movement with respect to the plate. The sleeve 23 and boss 24 may be provided with suitable registering scales so that the amount of rotation of the screw 2| may be accurately observed.

A ball crank 26 may also be fixed on the end of .the screw 2|, as by a suitable key and keyway,

and held in place by a cap nut 21, so that the screw may be rotated by turning the crank.

Thus mounted, the screw 2| extends through the frame, parallel to the posts l2, and passes through a hole 28 in a central support member 29, (Fig. 2), which supports an electric motor in a manner to be hereinafter described and which extends outwardly from the housing adjacent one end. The hole 28 is tapped to receive two sleeves -or bushings 30 and 3| which are threaded into the hole. These sleeves are internally threaded to receive the screw 2| which is preferably provided with square threads. The threads on the outer surfaces of the sleeves 30 and 3| have preferably a less pitch than those on the screw 2|, so that accurate longitudinal adjustments of the sleeves may be made. When properly adjusted the sleeves may be locked in position by means of set screws 32 and 33 which are threaded through tapped holes provided for them leading through the support member 29 into the hole 28 opposite their respective sleeves.

By rotating one sleeve very slightly with respect to the other it will be seen that the internal threads on one sleevemay be made to bear against one side of the threads on the screw 2| while the internal threads on the other sleeve bear against the other side of the threads on the screw. By adjusting the sleeves, therefore, it is possible to reduce play between the threads of the sleeves 30 and 3| and the screw 2| to a minimum. Any wear mounted when housing |3 is moved to its lowest position. Tool shaft |3| as shown in Fig. 8 is below the axis of sleeve 81 to avoid interference from the housing for accessibility to work to be ground or drilled.

It will be further seen that although the motor shaft and tool shaft I3 I, while rotating on parallel axes on different planes in respect to the axis of sleeve 31, both shafts adjust about the same axis and that therefore the driving and driven pulleys on the two shafts will remain aligned with each other regardless of the degree to which the two shafts are angularly adjusted or tilted with respect to the posts l2, so long as they are positioned parallel to each other. a

The housing |3 may be locked in adjusted position, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of two locking members 33 and 31 which are caused to engage two of the posts H. To this end holes 38 and 33 are provided in the opposite walls of the housing, aligned with each other, and close enough to two of the posts so that if the interior surfaces of the holes were continued towards each other there would be in a slight intersection with the posts.

The thickness of the walls of the housing adjacent the holes is sufllcient to support the two locking or wedging members 38 and 31which respectively fit into the holes 33 and 39 and are slidable therein." The members 38 and 31 have portions 40 and 4| of the ends cut to the configuration of the post |2 with which they come into contact when pushed sufliciently into the hole.

In order to move the members 36 and 31 in the holes, I use a single rod 42 as a rotatable control means which passes freely through a hole in the member 33 and has its other end threaded and screwed into a tapped hole 43 in the member 31. The position of the members 38 and 31 is such that the rod 42 clears the posts l2. The outer end of the rod 42 is provided with a head 44 which with a socket 45 adapted to receive a wrench for turning.

A slight turn of the rod 42 in the proper direc-' tion by means of the socket 4! will cause the lock ing members 36 and 31 to move towards each other with the result that the portions 4|] and 4| will grip their respective posts |2 to lock the housing in position. A slight movement of the rod 42 in the other direction will release the members 36 and 31 from the posts l2 and permit movement of the housing l3 by means of the screw 2|. Since each of the locking members 36 and 31 are interdependent on each other for the amount of pressure each exerts on the guide posts, the action of each is therefore simultaneous and equal with the other. This simultaneous and equal action avoids the tendency to displace the position of the housing i3, which may occur when each post lock operates independently.

A further advantage gained in causing opposing 13 looking members 33 and 31 to operate simultaneously is that the action necessary by the operation of the machine in locking in position is reduced by half as compared with independently operated post locks.

' A worm and worm wheel assembly is mounted in the hollow housing I9. The worm 49 is rotatably mounted in bearing sleeves 41 and 49 positioned in holes 49 and 59 in opposite walls of the housing IS. The axis of these holes is near the end of the housing [3 carrying the support member 29. The thickness of these walls is increased at these points to provide suiiicient support for the bearing sleeves 41 and 48 and also for the retaining and adjusting means therefor. The shaft of the worm is provided with collars 59 and 94, as shown in Fig. l, which bear respectively against the inner ends of the bearing sleeves 41 and 48 to prevent axial thrust of the worm, while straight cylindrical portions 95 and 56 have bearing engagement, respectively, with the inner surfaces of the bearing sleeves.

The outer end of the hole 59 is threaded to receive a bearing-adjustment disc 51, (Fig. l), which is provided with a pair of sockets 59 so as to permit rotating with a special tool, and when threaded into the hole 59 bears against the outer end of the bearing sleeve 48. The disc 51 closes the hole 59 to prevent leakage of oil which may be contained within the housing is.

The other end of the worm 46 is extended through the hole 49 as a splined shaft 59 upon which stepped pulley H8 may be mounted in any desirable manner, so that the worm may be beltdriven from a motor to be later described. A bearing-adjustment ring 6i surrounds the shaft and is threaded into the tapped outer end of the hole 49. The ring 9i bears against the outer end of the bearing sleeve 41. The ring 6|, similarly to the disc 51, is provided with sockets 62 to receive a special tool for turning the ring.

A seal to prevent leakage of the oil from the interiorof the housing I 3 may be provided by means of a ring 63 of felt or other packing mate rial which may be held in an enlarged portion 94 of the opening through the ring 8| by a spring snap ring 65 which fits into a slot 96 in the enlarged portion. 4

It will be seen that the bearings may not only be adjusted to reduce axial play of the worm to a minimum by turning either or both the disc 51 and ring 6 I, but the axial position of the worm may be changed by turning both the disc and ring to move them in the same axial direction.

At right angles to the worm 46 and spaced therefrom is mounted a sleeve 91 carrying a worm wheel 68 which meshes with the worm 46. This sleeve is best shown in Fig. 2. It is rotatably mounted in roller bearings 69 and '10, set in holes H and 12 in opposite walls of the housing l3, the hole 12 being in the same wall from which the support member 29 extends. The material of the walls is extended adjacent the holes to give sufiicient support to the roller bearings which are set at an angle to withstand thrust. The inner rotating race 73 of the roller bearing 99 fits over the sleeve 61 and against a shoulder 14- formed thereon, while the outer race 15 has a sliding fit in the hole 'H and is held in place by an externally threaded adjusting ring I6 (Figs. 2 and 4), which is-screwed into the tapped outer portion of the hole I I. The ring 16 carries a sealing washer 11 held in place by a spring ring 19 which is retained by an internal slot I9 into which it snaps.

The worm wheel 98 fits over the other end of the sleeve 61, which is smaller in diameter than the central portion thereof, and against a shoulder 84 formed between the two portions of different diameter. The worm wheel is keyed to the sleeve 91 by the key II which fits in a keyway provided for it in the sleeve and in the worm wheel.

The inner race 92 of the roller bearing 10 fits over the sleeve and against the worm wheel 69, while the outer race 93 has a sliding fit in the hole 12 and is retained therein by an externally threaded adjusting ring 94 (Figs. 2 and 9), which is screwed into the tapped outer portion of the hole 12. The ring 94 carries a sealing washer 95 held in place by a spring ring 96 which is retained by an internal slot 96 into which it snaps.

It will be seen that by turning the adjusting rings I6 and '84 the operator cannot only take up any play in the bearings, but can also adjust the axial position of the sleeve El and therefore can center the worm wheel with respect to the worm. The rings 19 and 84 may be provided with suitable slots 99 and 99, respectively, for turning the rings with a special tool. The outer surfaces of the rings 16 and 94 and the ends of the sleeve are substantially flush with the front and rear faces of the housing.

The combination of the adjusting members 5T, 8f, 16 and 94 with a worm and worm wheel assembly in a tool unit permits adjustment to eliminate axial movement of both worm shaft and tool carrying shaft and, therefore, eliminates chatter and vibration due either to looseness of the bearings or cyclic action of a toothed milling cutter. A further advantage of the axial posi-- tion adjustment obtained is to increase the power transmitting efficiency and reduce the tendency to wear by centering the worm wheel with the worm so that the mating surfaces are held in true relationship.

The end of the sleeve 61, adjacent the roller bearing 69, may be tapered internally to receive a removable spindle 99 which protrudes from the sleeve and housing and which carries a cutting tool, as, for instance, a miller 9!, shown in Fig. 2. The bore of the sleeve 61 may be reduced in diameter at the other end, forming 'a shoulder 92, and in this reduced diameter portion is rotatably mounted a tool retaining rod 93 having a collar 94, spaced from its inner end, which bears against the shoulder 92, and a hand operated member 95, shown in the form of a cross, at the other end outside of the housing. The inner end of the rod 93 is threaded to fit into a tapped hole 96 in the spindle 99, so that by turning the hand member 95, the spindle may be drawn into the sleeve and secured therein, and it may be forced out by turning the member in the other direction. The member 95 is fiat enough so as not to interfere with the screw 2| which is positioned immediately on the other side of it.

A cover plate l3 may be secured by means of screws H to the top of the housing to prevent the oil from escaping and to protect the worm and worm wheel within.

A driving motor I90, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is mounted on the support member 29 with its shaft NH parallel to the worm 46, the arrangement being such that the spacing of the shaft from the worm may be adjusted and the motor may be tilted on an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane passing through the axis of the shaft, for a purpose to be later described.

In order to support the motor I make use of a bracket I92, (Figs, 2, 3 and 10), which is generally fan-shaped and provided with a pair of spaced parallel fianges I 93 extending perpendicuallel sides of the support. The-support is provided with a slot I05 extending through the support parallel to the plates I0, and II and a bolt I passes through this slot and through the holes- I04 and may be tightened to hold the bracket I02 rigidly in position.

An opening I06 in the center of the bracket I02 is provided to receive the support 29 when the bracket I02 is swung about the bolt I00 as a pivot. The bracket may therefore be swung about the bolt I00 as a pivot or it may be moved backwards and forwards with the bolt I00 moving in the slot I05. Either movement provides a means of changing the center distance between the worm 46 and the motor I00 and thereby adjusts the tension of the belt II9.

Since the flanges I03 and the side planes of the support 20 are parallel to the posts I2, which in turn are perpendicular to the worm shaft 40, the motor shaft is maintained parallel to the worm shaft when the bracket I02 is tilted forward or back or moved forward or back with the bolt I06 moving through the slot I05.

Two motor supports I01 and I08 hold the motor I00 to the bracket I02. These supports are secured to the motor at spaced points on the side thereof as by screws I09 and are provided respec tively with lugs H0 and III through which holes H2 and H3 extend with their axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to a plane passing through the motor shaft.

A hole I4 is provided in the narrow end of the fan-shaped bracket I02 with -the axis thereof perpendicular to the plane of the bracket while the wide end of the bracket is provided with an accurate slot I I5 which is curved about the hole I I4 as a center. The motor support I01 is secured to the bracket I02 by a bolt IIO which passes through the holes 4 in the bracket and H2 in the motor support I01. The motor support I08 is secured to the bracket I02 by a bolt II1 which passes through the slot H5 in the bracket and the hole H3 in the support I08. The size of the bracket is such that the hole I I4 in the bracket is normally aligned with the worm wheel sleeve 61.

By loosening the bolts H6 and H1 the entire motor I00 may be swung about the bolt II6 so that the motor shaft IOI may be tilted about the axis of the sleeve 61 when the bracket I02 is parallel to the posts I2. tilt adjustment will be described later.

The motor may be mounted with its spindle extending either to the right or the left side of the frame by removing the bolts I I6 and I I1 turning the motor end for end and replacing the bolts with the bolt I I6 through hole 5 and threaded into motor support I08, while bolt II1 is'through slot II4 threaded into support I01.

Bearing sleeves 41 and 40 have the same diameter. Holes 49 and 50 have the same diameter and threads. Worth 46 is so designed that it will operate in either direction in relation to worm wheel 58.

It is therefore evident that the device may be assembled with the extension of the worm 40 and the motor shaft IOI on either side of the device allowing the pulleys H8 and I20 to be positioned where they will offer no interference when operating the device close to obstructions on either side.

The purpose of this 'driven by means of a belt II! from another The outer endof the worm 40. as has already been described, is arranged to carry a stepped pulley I I0. The shaft is splined and the pulley may be held in position by any suitable means, such as a set screw I Ila, whereby the pulley may be adjusted axially of the shaft. This pulley is stepped pulley I20 mounted on the motor shaft IN. The motor shaft may also be spllned so that the pulley I20 may also be adiustably positioned axially of the shaft by any desirable means,

such as a set screw I20a.

The two stepped pulleys are preferably of different diameters. That is to sayythe pulley Ill, for instance, may have four individual pulleys of 1 /2, 2, 3, and 4 inches in diameter, while the pulley I20 may have four individual pulleys of 2, 3, 4 and 6 inches in diameter. This difference in diameter of the stepped pulleys is, however, not essential since two of the same size will give 10 pulley combinations, six more than is normal for the four stepped pulleys.

The stepped pulleys are interchangeable on the two shafts and can be mounted on either shaft with either end outward. One of the individual pulleys of one stepped pulley is aligned with one of the individual pulleys of the other stepped pulley so as to obtain a desired speed ratio between the two shafts. Any diiference in the length of the belt required for a certain c'ombination of individual pulleys may then be adjusted for by moving the bolt I00 in the slot I05 and by moving the bracket I02 about the bolt I06 as a pivot. In this manner a large number of shaft speed ratios may be obtained with the equipment.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown an attachment by means of which the cutting tool may be rotated on an axis-perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve 61. To this end the face I2I of the housing I 3 (Figs. 2 and 4), surrounding the sleeve 01 is machined flat and is provided with an arcuate T slot I22 curved about the axis of the sleeve 01 as a center. The axis of the sleeve 01 is nearer the edge of the facing adjacent the base plate I0 than the other edge so that the 1' slot I22 runs off of this edge forming an opening I23 to permit the insert of the heads of suitable bolts I24 by means of which the attachment may be secured to the face.

This attachment, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a plate I25 having the configuration of the face I2I of the housing I3 and provided with a cylindrical bearing member I20 transversely across the center thereof which carries a I21 may be adjusted as desired This increases the flexibility and usefulness of the tool.

A feature of the invention is the provision of means for attaching an auxiliary rotating tool, such as a grinder, to the faceof the housing and driving it directly from the motor without transmitting the motion through the worm and worm wheel. An embodiment of this feature is shown In Figs. '1 and 8.

A shaft I3I is rotatably mounted crossways of a'base I32 and spaced below the center thereof, which center coincides with the axis of the sleeve 61. A suitable pulley I33 is positioned on the shaft to align with the pulley IN!) on the motor shaft, and a belt I34 may engage the pulleys as the same center, i. e., the axis of the bolt II 6' which is aligned with the axis of the sleeve 41 and the center of the base I32, the direct drive from the motor may be maintained through a wide range of different angular positions of the auxiliary tool shaft I3I.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the motor is normally positioned with its center above the axis of sleeve 5.1 to avoid interference by the under side of the motor with the surface on which base plate II) is mounted when housing I3 is moved to its lowest position. Tool shaft III, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is below the axis of sleeve 51 for accessibility to work to be ground or drilled.

It will be further seen that, since the motor shaft and the tool shaft I3I pivot around thesame axis, even though on different planes, the driving and driven pulleys on the two shafts will remain aligned with each other regardless of the degree to which the two shafts are tilted, so long as they are positioned parallel to each other.

The machine tool thus far described may be mounted upon any suitable surface for placing it in the proper position for the work to be done.

-Holes I36 may be provided in the base III on opposite sides thereof so that the base It may bebolted in position and thereby attached to machine tools, such as lathes, planers or millers, or to a work bench or other mounting surface. However, I may also provide a feed table mechanism upon which the base III may be mounted so that the whole machine tool can be moved towards and away from the work and from side to side thereof and such movements may be accurately adjusted.

This auxiliary feed table mechanism comprises three major parts: a base feed table I31, a lower carriage feed table I38 mounted on the base feed table and arranged for adjustable movement thereon in a direction lengthwise of the base feed table, and a cross-feed carriage feed table I38,- mounted on the table I38 and arranged for adjustable movement at right angles to the movement of the table I38.

The base feed table I31 is an elongated platform which may conveniently be about two and a half times the length of the tool base plate I 0. A pair of slots I40 extending in from oppositie sides of the base feed table at one end and a slot I4I at the center of the opposite end form conven ent openings for bolting it to a suitable support. Longitudinal ridges I31a along the opposite edges of the upper surface of the platform may be provided for strengthening it.

An elongated rectangular opening I42 is provided in the table I31 extending longitudinally through the center thereof. A dove-tail member I43 is secured rigidly to the upper surface of the table I 31 by screws I44. The upper surface of this member iswider than its lower surface to formv the dove-tail cross-section, as indicated in III Fig. 12, and the member is wider than the opening I42 in the table I31 but is considerably narrower than the table itself. Similiarly, it is longer than the opening I42 but shorter than the table itself. The member I43 is also provided with an opening I45 extending longitudinally through its center, which opening is the same size and shape as the opening I42 in the table I31 and is aligned with it.

A lead screw I48 extends longitudinally within the openings I42 and I45 and is rotatably mounted in a bearing I41 which is formed partly in the table I31 and partly in the dovetail member I43, the two parts cooperating to form the complete bearing with the axis thereof coinciding with the plane of the adjacent surfaces of the two parts. A portion I45a of the lead screw is without threads to run in the bearing.

The outer end of the screw is provided with a head I48 which bears against the end surfaces of the table I31 and dove-tail member I43 and has a squared end portion I48 adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench for turning the screw. A collar I41a on the screw bears against the inner surfaces of the openings. The head I48 preferably has a scale I48a around the circumference thereof by means of which its adjusted rotated position may be easily determined. The other end of the screw I46 is provided with a small hole into which the end of a small screw I48a is adjustably positioned as a hearing. The screw I49a is threaded into a hole formed half in the base feed table I31 and half in the dove-tail member I43.

Upon the base table I31 is positioned the lower carriage feed table I38. This member comprises a plate about the size of the base I8 of the machine tcol andthis plate has a dove-tail groove I50 in the lower surface thereof adapted to re ceive the dove-tail member I43 attached to the base feed table I31, so that the table I38 may slide longitudinally on the surface of the table I31 but is held thereupon by the cooperation of the dove-tail'member of the latter and the groove of the former.

A block I 5i is attached to the center of the under surface of the lower carriage feed table I38 by screws I52 and has a tapped hole I53 extending longitudinally through it and the screw I46 is threaded in this hole. It will be seen that by turning the screw the block I5I will move within the openings I45 and I42 in the dovetail member and table I38, respectively, and car'- ry the table I38 along the surface of the base feed table I31 in the direction of the axis of the screw.

In order to eliminate play in the dove-tail connection, I make the dove-tail groove I50 a little wider than the dove-tail member I43 and provide a long narrow shim I54 within the groove at the side of the dove-tail member, as shown in Fig. 12. Two screws I 55 are threaded into tapped holes I53 in the side of the feed table I38 and may be adjusted to press the shim against the side of the dove-tail member. Holes I55a in one of the side ridges I31a give access to the screws.

The lower carriage feed table I38 is also provided with a dove-tail member I51 attached to its upper surface by screws I 58, this member extending at right angles to the dove-tail groove in the lower surface of the feed table. (See Fig. 13.) The dove-tail member I51 andfeed table I38 have aligned central openings I59 and I 50, respectively,

through which a, lead screw IBI extends in the position may be easily determined. The head has a squared end portion I65 adapted to receive a wrench for turning. A collar I65a on the screw bears against the inner surfaces of the openings I59 and I60.

The inner end of the lead screw I6I may be provided with a hole into which is adjustably positioned the end of a small screw I66 to form a bearing therefor. The small screw I66 is thread ed into a tapped hole I61 formed half in the upper surface of the feed table I38 and half in the lower surface of the dove-tail member I51.

The cross-feed carriage feed table I39 is mounted upon the lower carriage feed table I38. The table I39 is a thick plate about the size of the base III of the machine tool which is adapted to be secured to the upper surface of the table by means of screws I68 which pass through the holes I 36 in the base and are threaded into tapped holes I69 in the table I39. The table is provided with a dove-tail groove I16 adapted to fit over the dove-tail member I51, so that the cross-feed carriage feed table is held down upon the lower carriage feed table I38 but is free to slide thereon along the axis of the dove-tail member I51. A block "I is attached to the lower surface of the cross-feed carriage feed table I39, as by screws I12, and this block is provided with a tapped hole I1Ia to engage the threads of the lead screw I6I which is threaded through the hole. The block fits into the openings I59 and I66 in the dove-tail member I31 and the table I39, respectively, and moves in those openings along the axis of the screw I6I when the screw is turned.

As in the previous case, the groove may be made somewhat wider than the dove-tail member and a shim I13 provided in the space thus left which may be pressed against the side of the dove-tail member to maintain a close fit without play by screws I14 threaded through holes I15 in the side of the table I39.

With the parts assembled as described above, it will be seen that rotation of the lead screw I46 will cause the whole assembly above the base feed table I31 to move in one direction or the other, depending on the direction of the rotation of the screw, along the axis of the screw. Rotation of the lead screw I6I will cause the cross-feed carriage table I39, together with the machine tool which is supported upon it, to move in one direction or the other, depending on the direction of rotation of the screw, along the axis of the screw which is in a direction at right angles to the first mentioned movement.

Play in the dove-tail joints may be eliminated by tightening the screws I55 and I14 and wear may thus be compensated for.

The threads of the screws I46 and I6I preferably have the same shape, diameter, and pitch and the dimensions are made such that the crossfeed carriage feed table I39 will also fit upon the base feed table I31 with the groove I19 engaging the dove-tail member I43. Therefore, if movement of the entire machine tool in only one direction is required, and it is desired to bring the tool 12 closer to the surface on which it is mounted, the lower carriage feed table I36 may be removed and the cross-feed carriage feed table I39 mounted directly on the base feed table. This reduces the height of the machine in respect of the surface on which the feed table is mounted.

From the above description it is evident that I have provided a machine tool having a motor driven rotating tool element which may be moved with respect to the frame of the tool by rotation of a single ball crank and locked in the desired operating position. By means of the auxiliary base plate the entire frame may be shifted towards and away from the work. All the parts may be adjusted to eliminate backlash or reduce it to a minimum and thus prevent chattering of the tool when in use and permitting extreme accuracy in the control of the tool element. The adjustment of the spacing between the motor shaft and worm permits great flexibility of speeds for the tool element by the use of different pulley combinations. Also, additional functions are provided by the auxiliary tool which can be driven directly from the motor and can be placed at various angles with respect to the base plate.

From the above it is also evident that I have provided a machine tool of marked flexibility and accessibility to work to be machined,provided with controlled, accurate movement in its slidable parts, angular adjustment of tool carrying shafts and motors, and ability to position the machine close to obstructions without interference with its driving mechanism.

It is apparent that the various features are interrelated in that the failure of any part to provide precision and freedom from chatter would reduce the advantages gained by other features, and that the flexibility and accessibility prov ded by each feature increases the values of each of the others and the sum total value of the machine.

The speed of the tool may be quickl adjusted by the arrangement of different sized stepped pulleys adjustable axially on the driving and driver shafts. thus permitting the attainment of the proper tool speed.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool unit having a frame with a plurality of guide posts, a housing mounted for slideable movement on the frame whose movement is limited to a pre-determined path by the posts, screw means for moving and positioning the head along that path, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing which has one end adapted for receiving a tool which end is exposed on one side of the housing; a tool-carrying attachment including when attached to the tool-receiving side of the housing a tool shaft perpendicular to the sleeve as well as means for supporting the tool shaft axially nearer one end of the frame than is the sleeve for angular adjustment in respect to the frame but adjusted about the axis of the sleeve, belt means external of the housing for driving the tool shaft, motor means attached to the side of the housing opposite from the attachment, and means for supporting the motor for adjusted positions about the axis of the sleeve, the motor being so positioned that its shaft is farther removed from one end of the frame than is both the tool shaft and the sleeve, whereby the tool shaft may be positioned close to work without interference from the motor or the housing and the motor shaft adjusted to varying positions parallel to the tool shaft without causing misalignment of the belt means. 4

2. A tool unit having a frame with a plurality of parallel round guide posts, a tool-carrying head mounted for slideable movement on the frame whose movement is limited to a pre-determined path by the posts, screw means for moving and positioning the head along that path, motor means attached to the head for driving the head, and means for locking the head in an adjusted position with respect to the frame comprising in combination wedging members carried by the head each adjacent a different guide post, and rotatable control means for reciprocating each wedging member simultaneously against its contacting guide post with substantially equal pressure.

3. A tool unit as described in claim 1, in which the control means for reciprocating the wedging members is a screw threadedly engaging one of the wedging members while rotatably supported in another.

A tool unit having a frame with a plurali y of guide posts, a tool-carrying head mounted for slideable movement on the frame whose movement is limited to a pre-determined path by the posts, screw means for moving and positioning the head along that path, a tool shaft rotatably mounted on the head, belt means for drivingthe shaft, and motor means attached to the head in which the means for attaching the motor includes a support with parallel surfaces perpendicular to a slot contained in the support, a motor bracket with faces fitted over the parallel surfaces and slideable thereon, a bolt passing through the bracket faces and the slot parallel to the motor shaft, means for tightening the faces upon the surfaces of the support, and means for adjusting the motor shaft in angular relation to the guide posts, whereby the center distance of the motor shaft and the driven shaft may be varied by sliding the bracket selectively toward and from the driven shaft along the support and by moving the motor radially around the bolt while maintaining the motor shaft in adjusted angular relation to the guide posts.

5. A tool unit having a frame with a plurality of guide posts, a tool-carrying head mounted for slideable movement on the frome whose movement is limited to a pre-determined path by the posts and having a uniform diameter threaded bore, motor means for driving the tool head attached to the head, a screw for moving and po- 14 sitioning the head along the guide posts, a pair of aligned sleeves in said bore surrounding the screw whose inner surfaces are threaded to receive the screw and whose outer surfaces are threaded a different pitch selected to engage the threaded bore, and means for adjustably locking at least one sleeve to the head, whereb (1) end play of the screw in the head is controlled and (2) wear which is compensatable by further adjustment of one sleeve is confined to the sleeves and the screw.

6. A tool unit having a frame with a plurality of guide posts, a tool-carrying head mounted for slideable movement on the frame whose movement is limited to a pre-determined path by the posts, motor means for driving attached to the head, a tool carried on one side of the head, means for locking the head in an adjusted position b wedging action against the posts adjacent to the tool side of the head, and lead screw means for moving the head along the guide posts rotatably mounted in the frame against end play as well as located parallel to and in approximately the same plane as the posts on the side of the head opposite the tool, a pair of aligned sleeves with which the screw has threaded engagement attached to the head, and means to adjust the screw in relation to the head, whereby the screw cooperates with the locking means to hold the head accurately in position on the posts and to discourage rocking movement of the head about the locking means.

DAVID S. MCCULLOUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,266 Darling Feb. 7, 1882 421,517 Richards Feb. 18, 1890 477,831 Beidler June 28, 1892 957,978 Meyers May 17, 1910 997,919 Jones July 11, 1911 1,022,756 Rice Apr. 9, 1912 1,057,005 Miles Mar. 25, 1913 1,131,340 Delaney Mar. 9, 1915 1,146,995 Bossert July 20, 1915 1,434,130 Lloyd Oct. 31, 1922 1,490,411 Baker Apr. 15, 1924 1,684,665 Edwards Sept. 18, 1928 1,975,947 Isler et a1. Oct. 9, 1934 2,041,578 Tautz May 19, 1936 2,074,844 Hill Mar. 28, 1937 2,215,369 Gabriel Sept. 17, 1940 2,228,664 Knouse et a1 Jan. 14, 1941 2,341,968 West Feb. 15, 1944 2,352,227 Sarossy June 27, 1944 2,453,315 Harbison Nov. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 81,126 France May 27, 1868 longitudinal position of one of the sleeves in respect to the other for minimizing end play of the 

